While the Pillars of Islam (Arkan al-Islam) represent the fundamental acts of worship that form the structure of a Muslim's life, the Articles of Faith (Arkan al-Iman) represent the core theological beliefs that form the foundation of a Muslim's worldview. Iman, often translated as faith, is a deep-rooted belief that resides in the heart and must be affirmed by the tongue and manifested through actions. These six beliefs are derived directly from the Quran and the Hadith, most notably the narration where the Angel Gabriel asked the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) about Iman, and he outlined these six tenets. They provide the "why" behind the "what" of Islamic practice, shaping a Muslim's understanding of existence, purpose, and destiny.
This is the most fundamental and comprehensive of all the beliefs. It is not merely a belief in a supreme being, but a specific and nuanced understanding of God's nature (Tawhid). This belief is divided into three core aspects:
Tawhid al-Rububiyyah (Oneness of Lordship): Believing that Allah is the sole Creator, Sustainer, and Sovereign of the universe. He is the one who gives life and death, and in His hand is all affairs.
Tawhid al-Uluhiyyah (Oneness of Worship): Believing that Allah alone has the exclusive right to be worshipped. All acts of worship—prayer, supplication, sacrifice, trust—must be directed sincerely to Him alone, without any partners. This is the essence of the message of all prophets.
Tawhid al-Asma' wa al-Sifat (Oneness of His Names and Attributes): Believing in the names and attributes Allah has used for Himself in the Quran or through His Prophet, without distorting their meaning, denying them, likening them to creation, or asking "how" they are. He is described as the Most Merciful, the All-Knowing, the All-Hearing, in a manner that befits His majesty, without comparison to His creation.
Muslims believe in the existence of angels as a distinct creation of Allah, created from light. They are sinless beings who tirelessly carry out Allah's commands without free will. Belief in them involves accepting their existence and specific roles, including:
Belief in angels affirms the reality of the unseen world and the perfect, precise order of Allah's kingdom.
Muslims believe that Allah, in His mercy, revealed divine scriptures to various prophets as a guidance for their people. These books were meant to show humanity the path to righteousness and salvation. The primary scriptures mentioned in the Quran are:
A Muslim believes that all the original revelations were from the same divine source, Allah. However, it is also a core belief that the previous scriptures were altered, lost, or corrupted over time by their followers. The Quran, revealed as the final testament, confirms the truth in the previous books and abrogates them. It is uniquely protected by Allah from any alteration until the Day of Judgment, serving as the ultimate and preserved criterion for judging right and wrong.
This entails believing that Allah sent chosen human beings as prophets and messengers to every nation to guide them back to the worship of the One God. The first was Adam, and the last is Muhammad (peace be upon him). All prophets were human beings of the highest moral character, but they were not divine. They were infallible in conveying revelation but lived normal human lives otherwise.
Muslims must believe in all of them without distinction; to reject one is to reject all. Key figures include Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad (peace be upon them all). Prophet Muhammad is believed to be the "Seal of the Prophets," meaning his message is final and universal, and no prophet will come after him. Belief in the prophets establishes a continuous lineage of divine guidance and provides perfect human examples to emulate.
This belief encompasses the entire sequence of the afterlife, which begins with:
This belief is the ultimate motivator for moral and ethical conduct, providing a profound sense of accountability and purpose to earthly life.
This is the belief that everything—good and bad—occurs according to Allah's divine will, knowledge, and decree. It is a complex belief that balances divine omnipotence with human free will. Scholars often break it down into four levels:
Crucially, this belief does not negate human free will and responsibility. While Allah has decreed the outcomes, He has also granted humans the ability to choose their actions. A person will be held accountable for the choices they make, which were also known and decreed by Allah. This belief fosters immense peace, patience in adversity, and humility in prosperity, as a believer knows that the ultimate control rests with the All-Wise and All-Knowing Creator.
This document provides a detailed overview of the Six Articles of Faith based on mainstream Sunni Islamic theology (Aqidah) as derived from the Quran and the authentic Prophetic traditions (Hadith).
Theological Nuances: The explanation provided reflects the consensus of Ahlu al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah (the People of the Sunnah and Community). Certain aspects, particularly the detailed understanding of Divine Decree (Qadr), the nature of Allah's attributes, and the status of other prophets like Jesus, are areas where there have been historical theological discussions and where the beliefs of other Islamic groups (such as various Shia traditions) may differ in their philosophical interpretation, while still affirming the core six beliefs.
Not a Substitute for Scholarly Guidance: This is an introductory and educational resource. The depth of Islamic theology is vast, and complex questions regarding these beliefs should be directed to qualified and reputable Islamic scholars.
Primary Sources: The authority for these beliefs is solely the Quran and the authenticated Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This summary is a distillation of classical Islamic scholarly works on creed.